Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Puppy Stake 2015

Droopys saucy seven lights up sizzling Kirby 2015 by Paul Cooney

The quarter-finals of the 2015 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Puppy Stake provided four action packed heats that truly had everything to entertain even the most race hardened greyhound enthusiast with yet more shock eliminations, brilliant performances and one admirable achievement by the Robert Gleeson trained Droopys Braedon when protecting his unbeaten career record by landing heat 2 with a dominant trap to line display, recording his fastest time of 28.35.

Droopys Braedon arrived at Limerick to contest a 48 runner A3 stake in January having scored an A6 debut success at Shelbourne Park. With the Kirby an obvious target at that stage, he announced himself as a serious contender when clocking 28.56 on his Limerick debut and followed that win with 28.38 and 28.50 in two subsequent heat victories. His withdrawal from that A3 final to fine tune his Kirby preparations now looks a smart decision as he returned in sparkling form and has scored a hat-trick of heat wins when hardly seeing another rival following slick starts in each round. There can be no doubt that the red jacket has helped his cause along the way but when an early pacer posts breaking splits of 1.18 and 1.19 it lends one to believe that he might well cope in any draw.

Michael Keenan with John Boyle`s 2014 HERO!

Breaking fast from trap 1 last week he comfortably led on the run to the opening bend where he was followed into the back-straight at a three length deficit by Beaming Boost with Boylesports Jet (ex Hoodwinked) a further one and a half lengths back in third. Braedon maintained his advantage to the third bend but by now Boylesports Jet had drawn alongside Beaming Boost with a menacing challenge having shown exceptional back-straight pace.

 The chasing pair had closed to a length and a half entering the home-straight and the winner was all out to repel the powerful and impressive late thrust of the new John Boyle recruit by three quarters of a length in 28.35 with Pat Buckley’s Beaming Boost just a half length further back in third place of what was a wonderfully talent laden “Kirby” heat.

Pale Moon rises as big guns lose out in heat 1

The opening heat of the night promised a big clash between strong outright fancies Ballydoyle Honey and fastest round 2 winner Coolavanny Jap but that scenario would not materialise as Patrick O’Connor’s Pale Moon broke well from trap 2 and defended his rails pitch at the first bend for a back-straight lead that would see him safely home in 28.71. He was slipstreamed at the first bend by the clever Boherna Pedro from trap 1 and Liam Dwan’s powerhouse again showed big pace from the second turn to reduce a two length deficit to the minimum short-head at the line. There was misery behind the leading pair for supporters of the favourites with Ballydoyle Honey unable to gain clear racing room at the bend despite breaking on terms from trap 3 but it was much more disheartening for connections of Coolavanny Jap who had seemed safe when managing to secure third place off the second bend. He flew on the back-straight to range alongside Boherna Pedro at the third turn but in a minor brush between the pair, completely lost his action and was shuffled back lengths, costing him a possible win chance but more pertinently cost him his qualifying place, leaving Cable Bay to benefit when a three length third.

Our third quarter-final then saw Neilus O’Connell’s Fastaway Jayfkay score his first heat win of the event with an impressive early paced display. He just made the bend in front with a length to spare and swept to a commanding advantage on the back-straight when galloping the turns sweetly. He held a seven length margin over Country Legend who used his trap 1 draw to good effect for a clear run and made a late bid for glory when staying strongly. Reducing the leaders advantage with every stride he just failed to mow him down when a neck second in 28.73. Liscahane Royal emerged best from bumping between the remaining runners to take third where both Go Django and Ring Ben lost there chances when knocked over at the opening bend.

Hawaii remains unbeaten in heat 4 cracker

Holland's Hawaii remains unbeaten in Kirby 2015

Two unbeaten stake runners lined up for battle from opposite draws in the concluding heat where Rachel Wheeler’s Cunning Barney and Graham Holland’s Rural Hawaii treated patrons to an absolute thriller. The former made just about the best start and held a slight advantage on the run to the bend with a crucial rails pitch from trap 1. Rural Hawaii had a half length to make up after his moderate start from trap 6 but showed brilliant early pace to draw alongside Barney on the outside and forged a half length advantage entering the back-straight. He had stretched to a length and a half by the third bend but offered Cunning Barney the inside line when charting a middle course and the Wheeler charge took full advantage to draw level entering home-straight. 

A thrilling buckle saw the pair locked in a protracted battle all the way to the line with Rural Hawaii prevailing by just a neck in a smart 28.45. Impressing once again when chasing these home in third was Noel Hehir’s Ivy Hill Bart. He held strong against slight crowding at the turns and showed all the pace of the leading pair thereafter when going down by less than two and a half lengths.

Back Beaming to Boost Buckley challenge

1) Country Legend 2) Boherna Pedro 3) Cunning Barney 4) Beaming Boost 5) Cable Bay(m) 6) Liscahane Royal(w)

Our opening semi-final will for the first time see Cunning Barney contest a Kirby heat without the benefit of the red jacket but his trap 3 berth would appear to offer a highly plausible claim for another rails run at the opening bend as he can outpace those on his inside. The key to victory for the Rachel Wheeler runner will be fending off the attentions of Pat Buckley’s Beaming Boost in trap 4.

Leger winning trainer Pat Buckley can get Boost from Beaming!

 The latter has a round one defeat at the hands of Cunning Barney to avenge if he is to win but has shown impressive pace throughout the event and excepting any bumping between the pair they are likely to contest heat victory from the top of the back-straight. The scramble to make the final in behind these will be a fascinating tussle with four strong staying pups certain to make late challenges. The manner in which Country Legend stayed on last week was extremely eye-catching and his trap 1 draw here may prove crucial for first run behind the likely pacesetters and he gets a tentative vote to reach the last six but in reality a strong case can be made for all runners. Verdict 4-3-1

Droopy draw can bring excellent eight!

1) Droopys Braedon 2) Pale Moon 3) Fastaway Jayfkay 4) Boylesports Jet(m) 5) Ivy Hill Bart(m) 6) Rural Hawaii(w)

There was groans from connections of every other remaining runner at the live semi-final draw last week when the unbeaten Droopys Braedon again secured a rails berth in trap 1 for our second semi-final and one can clearly see why! Attempting to end his unbeaten streak would take a monumental effort in any situation but his current form combined with his ideal draw almost makes him unopposable now. He can dominate the early exchanges, lead on the back-straight and most likely last home which leaves just two qualifying places for our remaining five contenders.

Draws win races and Trap 1 is ideal for Breadon!

We are still awaiting an official ownership change for Boylesports Jet who began this event as Hoodwinked but a commitment to purchase by 2014 winning owner John Boyle brought a name change for the third round heats and with it a return to his sizzling opening round win form. He chased home Droopys Braedon when reducing his advantage all the way from the second bend and although his trap 4 draw makes crowding likely, he simply possesses too much raw speed to exclude form the trio now. Graham Holland’s Rural Hawaii will need to be sharp from trap 6 but unbeaten in the event thus far, he has hardly put a paw out of place and a clear run must see him claim a qualifying place. Complicating this heat further is Noel Hehir’s Ivy Hill Bart in trap 5. Steadily progressing, he showed big pace in defeat last time and should he occupy a qualifying place at any point in the race, he is likely to defend it! Verdict 1-4-6

A Big Thanks to the Racing Post for carrying the Previews throughout the event! http://tinyurl.com/npqor2n

Outright Betting

Droopys Braedon		2/1
Cunning Barney		4/1
Boylesports Jet		5/1
Rural Hawaii		6/1
Beaming Boost		6/1
Cable Bay		14/1
Liscahane Royal		20/1
Ivy Hill Bart		20/1
Country Legend		33/1
Pale Moon		33/1
Boherna Pedro		40/1
Fastaway Jayfkay		50/1

Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Puppy Stake 2015

Flying Jap goes fastest in Cool round two victory!        by Paul Cooney

The major events of greyhound racing are never easily won and nowhere was this more evident than in the second round heats of the 2015 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Puppy Stake with an action packed night providing surprise winners with shock eliminations, but the session also brought a stunning performance from Coolvanny Jap as the Pat Buckley runner registered the fastest time of the competition when dominating heat 4 in 28.22!

Coolavanny Jap lit up Limerick in round two!

Held when third to fastest round one heat winner Hoodwinked the previous week, Coolavanny Jap clearly benefited for his Limerick debut when finding a smart break from trap 3 and shook off the early attentions of both Greenisle Rover and Satin Tess to forge a one and a half length lead at the turn. He had stretched readily clear entering the back-straight with victory beyond doubt and when 16.11 flashed up on the stadium clock for the intermediate split, patrons were forewarned of the brilliant 525 yard time he was about to post. Only once bettered in the short history of the stake by Leamineigh Turbo with 28.16 in 2013, this performance realises his immense potential and makes him the leading player for outright honours. Far from disgraced when five lengths second was Ballyhooly Henry who, matched the winner for pace from the halfway point, overtaking Satin Tess on the back-straight.

Three remain unbeaten

Our eight heats saw just three runners remain unbeaten in the event and first to register back to back wins was Graham Holland’s Rural Hawaii when again displaying impressive pace throughout heat 1 after a good start from trap 6. He paced up well on the outside, crucially denying the well backed trap 5 runner-up, Brendan Matthews’s Cable Bay an early lead. His 28.48 winning time when a two and a half length victor makes him a big force in the competition should he continue to find clear runs from his wide seed as he fully sees out the trip, an admirable quality in addition to his early pace.

Our next repeat winner came in the following “heat of death” where Rachel Wheeler’s Cunning Barney warmed to his Kirby task by posting a Limerick hat-trick. He had a favourable draw in a heat that contained some serious outright fancies and used his rails pitch from trap 1 to good effect for a clear run in a tight first bend tussle. Claiming the lead at the second turn he stretched clear thereafter for a five and a half length verdict over Baile Mhic in 28.57 with Ballydoyle Honey performing a Houdini like escape to claim the third qualifying place despite being plumb last between the second and fourth bends! The big casualties here were first round winners Leave at Dawn and Farloe Hunter when finding traffic at the opening turns.

Braedon registers saucy six timer!

Closing the Kirby heats with a six timer to start his career was Robert Gleeson’s Droopys Braedon when dominating heat 8 following a blistering 1.19 sectional from an ideal trap 1 on his way to a six and a half length verdict over Fastaway Jayfkay in 28.49 with Go Ahead filling third. Droopys Braedon continues to improve his breaking and if he can keep drawing an inside berth, may justify his outright favouritism with odds currently as low as 4/1!.

Other notable winners on the night were Beaming Boost who showed pleasing progression for his Limerick debut to repel Go Django by two lengths in heat 7, recording 28.53 while Ivy Hill Bart gave a thoroughly professional performance in heat 6 with a smart break and all round pace to defeat Boherna Pedro by four lengths in 28.63.

Big guns fire big bullets in first quarter-final

The in-form kennels of Graham Holland hold a strong Kirby hand

Trainer Graham Holland retains a very strong hand in the stake from his original seven entries with four still standing at quarter-final stage but close on his heels is Pat Buckley with three of his eight entries remaining and heat 1 will ignite our third night of fiery Kirby action as these prolific kennels will load their leading players into adjoining traps for a mouth watering opening heat tussle. Buckley’s Coolavanny Jap is the fastest runner in the stake thus far and he is hard to fervently oppose but expect Holland’s Ballydoyle Honey to improve on his two previous efforts now and give the favourite a thorough examination of his Kirby credentials with what looks his best draw of the competition. From trap 3 he can lead the runners on his inside for a rails pitch at the bend. This scenario should see him and Coolavanny Jap contest the lead off the second bend from where we will be treated to an epic back-straight buckle between two supremely talented youngsters. The potential fly in the ointment here could be Brendan Mathews’s Cable Bay in trap 6. He improved markedly last week when displaying impressive back-straight pace and a clear run on the outside can see him be very competitive.

Sizzling Braedon chases seven straight successes

The unbeaten Droopys Braedon is chasing his seventh straight victory in a wonderful career start but faces by far his toughest assignment yet in heat 2 where he meets fastest round one winner Hoodwinked for Brendan Matthews in trap 6 along with Pat Buckley’s powerhouse Beaming Boost in trap 2. However the Robert Gleeson trained early pacer has again got the best of the draw in trap 1 and it is hard to see him being denied a back-straight lead which would just about see him home. Beaming Boost can track him to the second turn and given a clear run, could seriously threaten in the home-straight. Hoodwinked has to bounce back from his defeat last week when surrendering what appeared a clear winning chance. Ponderous when exiting the second bend he failed to show the sizzling form of his round one win but clearly is a big challenger if more assured this week.

2013 winning trainer Owen McKenna has just one remaining challenger for the €80,000 first prize but his Go Django has a plausible opportunity to register his first Limerick win in heat 3 where he can be fancied to hold a rails lead from trap 2. He can lead trap 1 runner Country Legend for a clear run and a likely return to the sizzling form of his Tralee debut in just his fifth career start now. The afore mentioned Country Legend can show big pace from the second bend and expect him to make a strong late bid to qualify along with Liscahane Royal in trap 6 who can gain a clear run as the sole wide seed.

The inside draw can prove crucial for Braedon & Barney

Rachel Wheeler’s Cunning Barney emerged victorious from round two’s hottest heat when using his trap 1 draw to good effect at the bends and having drawn the red jacket again, has clear claims of completing a Limerick four-timer in our closing heat. He can outpace those on his immediate outside for a bold bid throughout but will be tested to his limits by Graham Holland’s unbeaten stake runner Rural Hawaii. He has shown brilliant early pace in both heats and looks set to lead on the outside. He gets a narrow vote to slingshot into the lead off the second bend and remain unbeaten. Warranting big respect in the heat are Ivy Hill Bart who can prove a big threat throughout if repeating his latest slick start and Ballyhooly Henry who showed impressive back-straight pace when ceding no ground to fastest heat winner Coolavanny Jap from the second bend last week.

A big thanks to the Racing Post for carrying the Kirby previews throughout the event. http://www.racingpost.com/news/greyhounds/kirby-continues-with-saturdays-quarter-finals/1840632/top/

BETTING

Droopys Braedon		5/1
Coolavanny Jap		6/1
Cunning Barney		13/2
Rural Hawaii		8/1
Beaming Boost		8/1
Ballydoyle Honey		10/1
Hoodwinked		10/1
Go Django		12/1
Cable Bay		14/1
Ballyhooly Henry		20/1
Ivy Hill Bart		20/1
Liscahane Royal		25/1
Baile Mhic		33/1
Cabra Mufasa		33/1
Boherna Pedro		33/1
Pale Moon		33/1
Rackethall Royal		40/1
Country Legend		40/1
Hawthorne Rumble		40/1
Fastaway Jayfkay		100/1
Ring Ben		100/1
Ballinclare Mars		100/1
Go Ahead		100/1
Satin Tess		100/1

Wee Man Leaves rivals Hoodwinked 

                                           in Kirby opening round

A fantastic night of opening round action in the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial has set the scene for another epic renewal of the richest puppy stake in the world, with many outright ante-post fancies laying down markers from the outset but just as the event ended last year, so it began in 2015 with a Brendan Matthews winner!

Brendan Matthews (left) with Kirby sponsor Noreen McManus

Affectionately known in coursing circles as “the wee man”, Brendan Matthews is both feared and respected in equal measure. He landed the 2014 final with Boylesports Hero and arrived to Limerick this time around with three comrades from a litter by Foleys Folly out of Toms Delight. All three had made moderate career starts last Autumn with little indication on bare form that they could be serious Kirby contenders. Off the track for the duration of the coursing season, they returned with eye-catching sprint trials at Limerick and there was an air of inevitability coupled with retrospective knowing nods as Leave At Dawn scorched to a highly impressive victory in our opening round 1 heat. He made a moderate start from trap 5 but hit the front when galloping the second bend like a seasoned professional in just his fourth career start and stretched readily clear on the back-straight. His winning time of 28.53 when three lengths in advance of Minglers Suarez would only be surpassed by two runners on the night, one of which was his own brother as Hoodwinked would go fastest of all in heat 10.

A level start from trap 6 was enough to see Hoodwinked dominate his field with far superior early pace for a first bend lead. He had stretched to a four length advantage by midway on the back-straight and maintained that gap to the line when recording a scorching 28.37. He was followed home by Across The Way and Coolavanny Jap and the fact that these impressive runners were unable to make an impression on Hoodwinked only adds more substance to a breath-taking performance.

Honey leads the way in Holland’s sweet treble

Clonmel Champion Unraced winner Ballydoyle Honey

Leading trainer on the night was Graham Holland who scored the first leg of a treble in heat 2 as Clonmel Champion Unraced winner Ballydoyle Honey looked extremely comfortable on the Limerick circuit. Hitting the front off the second bend he charged impressively down the back-straight for a seven length verdict over Pale Moon in 28.58. Holland’s Cabra Mufasa then broke well from trap 1 in heat 4 to dominate throughout in 28.98 before Rural Hawaii claimed a place on the outright shortlist with a brilliant early paced display, despite being led from trap 6 in heat 10. He cleverly switched inside his wide running trap 5 rival on the run to the bend, gaining clear racing room that would see him dominate throughout in a slick 28.55. Catching the eye when last off the second bend here was Ruairi Dwan’s Mildean Cougar who powered from halfway to reduce an eight length deficit to just three and a half lengths at the line and the Thurles raider now looks a player in the stake on a track that will suit his racing style.

A maiden entering this event, Owen McKenna will be delighted to chalk a mark in the win column at the seventh attempt with his Farloe Hunter. He tracked Warrior Gem in the early strides before launching a telling back-straight thrust that would see him home by five lengths in 28.46. He will roll the dice at the first bend going forward but if within striking range on the back-straight, will prove a big threat to any prospective champion.

A leading outright fancy for the event having registered 28.38 in graded company here last month, Robert Gleeson’s Droopys Braedon made a pleasing transition to open class when just forging a one length lead at the opening turn of heat 5. He showed steely determination when matched and tight for room on both sides upon exiting trap 4 before recording a smart 28.68, a length in advance of strong staying Beaming Bucko.

The draw for round 2 has thrown up some fascinating clashes from the very start and while the opening heat may appear a straightforward forecast with Rural Hawaii and Mildean Cougar fancied to fight out the finish as they did in round 1, watch out for the third of Brendan Matthews’s runners, Cable Bay in trap 5. On the evidence of his litter brothers, he may step up markedly from his round 1 third and cuts a very interesting figure here.

Something must give in heat 2

While heat 1 can be labelled intriguing, the following heat 2 can only be described as vicious, where four previous heat winners will collide and something must give. Cunning Barney was a 28.70 winner in round 1 and he has the best of the draw now in red. He can trap faster than he did last week and has a 28.42 win at Limerick on his card but if he manages to qualify then we are assured to lose at least one sub 28.60 winner from last week. Ballydoyle Honey took to the track very pleasingly in his heat win but has a scary draw in trap 2 now for not only has he to worry about Cunning Barney but his kennel companion Riverside Gold in trap 3 can fly to the bend. He has not trapped well enough the last twice however so it is plausible that Barney can just about escape unscathed. It is no easier for those on the outside but Leave At Dawn should get a run if he repeats his split from last week and he along with Cunning Barney appear to have the best of the draw. Having impressed so much when clocking 28.46 in round 1, Owen McKenna’s Farloe Hunter may have to pull out all the stops now for a coveted qualifying place in a heat that would grace the final itself.

Heat 3 will then offer a highly plausible repeat win for Hoodwinked (trap 5) who is fancied to match Warrior Gem (trap 4) when the lids open before outpacing him to the bend in a likely straight forecast. Also likely to register a second heat win is Droopys Braedon with his plumb draw in trap 1 of the concluding heat 8. He can match Black Tom on his immediate outside for a clear run and back-straight lead with this scenario, the forecast suggestion.

With the safety net of a fourth qualifying place now gone, expect the leading players of Kirby 2015 to lay down their markers in search of the €80,000 prize and enjoy a guaranteed night of racing excellence by Ireland`s best young trackers.

BETTING

Beaming Bucko
8/1
Droopys Braedon
8/1
Ballydoyle Honey
10/1
Farloe Hunter
10/1
Rural Hawaii
12/1
Go Django
14/1
Beaming Boost
14/1
Cunning Barney
14/1
Hoodwinked
14/1
Bruno Ya Know
16/1
Coolavanny Jap
20/1
Leave At Dawn
20/1
Ballyhooly Henry
25/1
Milldean Cougar
25/1
Baile Mhic
33/1
Riverside Gold
33/1
Rackethall Royal
33/1
Jumeirah Mikey
33/1
Mimis Ace
33/1
Knight Invader
33/1
Cabra Mufasa
33/1
Cable Bay
33/1
Across The Way
33/1
Liscahane Royal
50/1
Warrior Gwen
50/1
Boherna Pedro
50/1
Ivy Hill Bart
50/1
Razldazl Rubin
50/1
Matts Marine
50/1
Hawthorne Rumble
50/1
Shaneboy Dubh
66/1
Country Legend
66/1
Pale Moon
66/1
Fastaway Jayfkay
66/1
Tynwald Rodney
66/1
Steeple Rd Vic
66/1
Minglers Suarez
66/1
Black Tom
66/1
Go Ahead
66/1
Moanteen Merlin
66/1
Lemon Fabia
66/1
Ring Ben
100/1
Munster Mission
100/1
Greenisle Rover
100/1
Piecestown Away
100/1
Carrowkeale Spike
100/1
Ballinclare Mars
100/1
Satin Tess
200/1